Ready to serve, protect

Long Beach Police Department academy Class President Eric McGowan leads the recruits through the graduation ceremony Thursday at the Long Beach Convention Center. BILL ALKOFER, THE REGISTER

Class No. 86 by the numbers

1,020

budgeted sworn Long Beach police officers in 2008

820

Budgeted sworn

police officers

in 2013

42

recruits who graduated and became sworn officers Thursday

4

women in the academy's Class No. 86

27.5

weeks that recruits spent in the academy

Source: Long Beach Police department

Academy graduates share reasons for joining force

The Long Beach Police Department celebrated 40 new officers who officially graduated from the police academy Thursday. Here is a closer look at some of the graduates:

***

Officer Joel Casillas, a 25-year-old Whittier native, always knew he wanted to be a police officer.

“It's what I've wanted to become ever since I was little. It never changed,” he said.

As soon as he turned 18, Casillas joined the U.S. Army so he could gain experience in discipline and service. He served a tour of duty in Iraq in 2011, and after an honorable discharge he applied for a position at the Long Beach Police Academy.

For Casillas, his dream has become true.

“It's still hard to believe,” he said. “I think it will hit me once I hit the streets.”

***

Officer Eric Thai, a 24-year-old resident of San Gabriel Valley, had been a police dispatcher in Monterey Park.

Thai said his experience as a dispatcher helped him to appreciate the tough work of a police officer.

“I wanted to become a police officer because I want to make a difference,” he said. “And I believe I can do that in a great city like Long Beach.”

***

Law enforcement runs in the family for officer Chad Manis, 25.

His father is Cpl. Greg Manis, a 25-year veteran with the LBPD and longtime K-9 handler.

Manis, a Long Beach native and graduate of Lakewood High, finished his degree at the University of Utah just in time to apply for a position in the academy.

He was one of two recruits to receive the Iron Effort Award.

***

At age 23, officer Ernesto Olmos was one of the youngest recruits at the academy, but he already has five years of experience in law enforcement.

At 18, Olmos became a police cadet for Santa Monica and went on to work as a traffic control officer.

“I've always had a lot of respect for police officers,” he said.

Olmos' father, Antonio Olmos, said he was immensely proud of his son.

“I told him, ‘Do what you love and you will be happy,'” he said.

The training was tough, but for the 42 police recruits who graduated Thursday, the time and dedication were worth it.

In a ceremony at the Performing Arts Center, Long Beach celebrated the graduation of the Long Beach Police Academy's Class No. 86, the city's first police academy graduation in more than four years. The academy was temporarily closed in 2008 because of budget cuts.

The academy started in May with 52 recruits, including two recruits for the Modesto Police Department. On Thursday, 42 of those recruits became sworn police officers as hundreds of family members and friends in the audience cheered.

City officials said the new officers will help replenish a police force depleted from attrition. In 2008, the department was budgeted for 1,020 sworn officers. The overall number of officers this year has dropped to about 820 because of attrition, officials said.

With about $3.6 million in surplus funds, the city earlier this year authorized $2.9 million for a 27-week police academy program. The city also gave approval for a second academy, Class No. 87, which will start next year. Class No. 87 received about 5,000 applications for just 50 slots.

Also set to graduate on Saturday is the Long Beach Fire Department's first full academy graduation in four years.

In crisp, new uniforms, the police recruits marched on stage in a single-file line as a bagpipe blared. Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster called it a “good day for Long Beach.”

“I want to thank (the police officers) for performing one of the most important services in our community, if not the most important, which is protecting the lives and property of every individual in our city,” Foster said.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell commended the new officers and told them to prepare for a job that will be tough but rewarding.

“I would argue that policing in an urban environment is one of the most complex jobs in the nation,” he said. “Trying to figure out who's who in a chaotic and often violent scene is very difficult, and you will have to put together information fast. You have seconds to act, and it better be right, because you will live with that situation for the rest of your life. That said, there is no better way in this world to serve mankind.”

The chief told the officers to view their badge as a symbol of honor, freedom and sacrifice.

“Remember the 28 Long Beach police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and who were killed doing their job wearing the same badge you now have on your chest,” he said. “Polish that badge frequently, and when you do, remember their families.”

The class received one last official inspection as the chief and other top-ranking staff walked past the lined recruits to check that uniforms were in top shape and guns were secure.

Six officers in the class received awards for excellence. Officer Eric McGowan, the class president, was awarded for academic excellence for his score of 97.7 percent on a series of tests. Officers Chad Manis and Gavin Purdy were both honored with the Iron Effort Award for tremendous skills, character and integrity. The Most Improved Shooter Award went to officer Wilmer Soriano, whose shooting average improved from 63 percent to 99 percent during the 27-week course, and the Outstanding Shooter Award went to officer Ryan MacCaskey, who maintained a shooting average of 98 percent.

The top award of overall outstanding recruit went to officer Bach Zavala.

As the ceremony came to a close, the newly sworn officers tossed their hats in the air and cheered. The new graduates will begin a yearlong field training program with an experienced training officer.

In a speech, McGowan urged his fellow graduates to never forget why they became police officers.

“Never lose sight of that feeling, the feeling you have right now,” he said. “The feeling that you want to do this job for free.”

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